Neurobiology Of Pain

Question 1

What are the somatic sensations?

Answer 1

Touch, proprioception, pain and temperature

Question 2

What tract takes pain and temperature sensations to the brain?

Answer 2

Spinothalamic

Question 3

What is the gate control theory?

Answer 3

Non painful stimuli close gate and don’t get send to the brain
Painful stimuli are allowed through the gate
Fibers and neurotransmitters can also open the gates

Question 4

What causes chronic pain?

Answer 4

Gated information goes to the brain and so seems painful when it’s not

Question 5

What 3 fibers are used for detecting sensation?

Answer 5

A and C - detect pain
A-beta - detects non-painful stimuli

Question 6

What happens when the spinal cord become hypersensitive to injury?

Answer 6

Allows gated sensory information through to the brain

Question 7

In chronic pain, what happens to ascending and descending pathways?

Answer 7

Ascending pathways increase
Descending pathways decrease

Question 8

What is the pain matrix?

Answer 8

Areas responsible for pain are also linked to emotion and mood